The Crown And The Flame

The day my brother, Chester Rodney, came to the orphanage to take me home, my boyfriend Dominic Huxley looked at me coldly and said, "If you choose to acknowledge your birth family, we're over." I knew he had his pride—he could never accept the difference in our social standing. So, for him, I turned my back on the family I had yearned for my whole life. In the decades that followed, I toiled without complaint, saving every cent to help him rise to success. By the time I was not yet fifty, overwork had worn me down. Lying on my deathbed, my breathing shallow and weak, I watched Dominic on television. He was now an acclaimed scientist, just awarded the nation's highest research honor. Tears welled in his eyes as he thanked another woman. "All these years," he said, "I never felt worthy of Alicia. But now, maybe I can use this award as the prologue to a love I've owed her for decades." The "Alicia" he spoke of was the woman mistakenly switched with me at birth—the false heiress the Rodney family raised as their own. The camera zoomed out. Alicia Rodney stood radiant, graceful, and perfectly preserved by years of luxury, blushing as she accepted the trophy. "I waited for you for decades," she said sweetly, "but marriage is still something I'll need to ask my brother about." Chester, who had long taken over the family, looked at her with an indulgent tenderness tinged with something unspoken. "I was adopted by our uncle back then for one reason—to protect Alicia. Making the only princess of the Rodney family happy has always been my life's mission." Only then did I realize—everything I thought I had chosen freely, every sacrifice I made without regret, was nothing but a trap, carefully woven by two men, all for Alicia. The betrayal pierced my heart. I died without peace. But when I opened my eyes again, I was back on the very day Chester came to take me home from the orphanage. I glanced past the two men eyeing me with subtle disdain. Without hesitation, I stepped into the car. "Take me home," I said. This time, I'd send whoever stole my life back to the gutter they slithered from.

Octavianus berhasil menaklukan Mesir setelah kematian Markus Antonius dan Cleopatra VII. Penaklukan ini juga mempelopori era baru bagi Romawi yang telah meninggalkan pemerintahan Republik menjadi Kekaisaran. Octavianus mendapatkan gelar Augustusnya sebagai kaisar pertama dan menciptakan Pax Romana (kedamaian Romawi). Namun, di tengah-tengah kejayaan Kekaisaran Romawi, Caesarion—putra kandung Julius Caesar—bangkit dari kematian untuk mengambil haknya.

Azalea Steffani Leandra adalah seniman muda berbakat yang menjalani hidup sederhana dan teratur hingga suatu malam kejadian yang tak terduga pun terjadi, tanpa sengaja dan tanoa diminta ia menjadi saksi pembunuhan di galeri tempatnya bekerja. Pelaku pembunuhan itu adalah Lucas Zander Maxime, bos mafia dingin dan berkuasa dari keluarga paling ditakuti, The Obsidian Crown. Dalam dunia Lucas, satu aturan tak pernah dilanggar: saksi harus dihilangkan. Namun, aturan itu runtuh ketika Lucas teringat permintaan terakhir ayahnya yang sekarat—melindungi seorang wanita bernama Azalea, tanpa alasan dan tanpa penjelasan, hanya peringatan bahwa jika Azalea mati, semuanya akan hancur. Maka alih-alih membunuhnya, Lucas memilih menyandera Azalea, mengawasinya dari dekat, dan diam-diam melindunginya. Keputusan ini sekaligus ia manfaatkan untuk menolak perjodohan yang telah diatur keluarganya dengan Seraphina Caldwell, pewaris keluarga mafia ternama The Crimson Veil. Kepada dunia mafia, Lucas menyatakan ia memilih wanita biasa daripada wanita berdarah mafia. Namun kebenaran tidaklah seperti itu, perlahan semuanya terungkap dan jauh lebih berbahaya daripada yang dibayangkan. Jejak masa lalu, dokumen tersembunyi, dan nama yang dihapus dari sejarah keluarga Caldwell mengarah pada satu kenyataan mengejutkan: Azalea adalah pewaris sejati keluarga Seraphina Caldwell—putri yang selama ini dinyatakan hilang dan sengaja disembunyikan demi melindunginya dari dunia mafia. Lucas baru menyadari kebenaran itu setelah ayahnya meninggal, memahami bahwa perintah melindungi Azalea adalah amanat terakhir yang krusial. Seiring waktu, tugas perlindungan berubah menjadi ikatan terlarang yang dipenuhi hasrat, ketakutan, dan pengkhianatan. Azalea jatuh hati pada pria yang seharusnya ia takuti—penyelamat sekaligus ancaman. Sementara itu, The Crimson Veil tak akan menerima penolakan perjodohan dan siap menumpahkan darah untuk merebut kembali pewaris mereka. Di tengah kekerasan dan rahasia kelam, Azalea harus memilih: melarikan diri dari takdir, atau menerima kebenaran tentang dirinya dan pria berbahaya yang berdiri di sisinya.

With a bag of vegetables gifted by the previous tenant in hand, I was on my way to collect rent from the third household when I unexpectedly ran into someone at the entrance of the community. The man frowned, his eyes fixed on the vegetables I carried, as though he couldn't fathom how I had ended up like this after leaving him. Following his gaze, I instinctively shifted the vegetables behind my back. My eyes dropped to the muddy water on the pavement, and I never would have imagined bumping into my ex-boyfriend—the one who had grown up with a silver spoon—in this aging neighborhood. He noticed my movement, and for a moment, something flickered in his expression: a mix of pity and recognition. "Since you've already learned your lesson," he said, "come back with me." At his words, I instinctively stepped back half a pace. "Who said I'm going back with you?" My rejection seemed to sting, darkening his face. "I know you're still blaming me for giving Rachel a child," he muttered, "but it's been three years. Isn't it time to stop? As long as you come back, we can be the same as before." Three years, huh? How quickly time had passed. Thinking of my little girl at home, still babbling her first words, I couldn't help but smile and shake my head. "Let's leave it at that. Go home and live your life with Rachel. My daughter's waiting for me to go back and make her food."

Kania--seorang single parent, muda, luar biasa menawan, jenius, anak emas perusahaan --terpikat pada pandangan pertama dengan CEO baru yang baru saja naik tahta. Saat ia mengetahui sang CEO tampan pun tertarik padanya, ternyata seorang petinggi perusahaan yang selama ini dibenci juga ikut memperebutkan cintanya. Tanpa ia sadar dirinya telah terbawa pada intrik perebutan kekuasan di kerajaan bisnis tempatnya bekerja. Mampukah ia menghadapi pesona dua pria tampan berbeda karakter itu?

(Sequel of "Stolen Crown") After almost six years of staying in Realgar Kingdom, Emery Trigon was summoned by the Arcana headmaster to return to the Kingdom of Silex due to an emergency. She was yet again set to a more dangerous mission in order to find out who had been on a killing spree in their kingdom and even attacked the Arcana's headquarters. This led Emery to not only cross path again with her ex-husband, King Lawson, but she would find herself getting involved with the tyrant conqueror and ruler of an empire, Emperor Claus Weston. And what only started to be a mission of gathering intel suddenly turned into a quest of claiming the crown of an empress.

Sa mata ng lahat, si Cassandra ay ang “Queen” ng mundo ng negosyo ang asawa ni Nathaniel, isang makapangyarihang negosyante na tinaguriang “King of Business Empire.” Marangya ang kanilang buhay, puno ng pera, impluwensya, at kasikatan. Ngunit sa likod ng kinang, itinatago ni Cassandra ang bigat ng pagiging isang “trophy wife” na nakatali sa imahe at kapangyarihan ng asawa. Habang mas lumalawak ang kaharian ni Nathaniel sa mundo ng negosyo, mas nararamdaman ni Cassandra ang pagkawala ng sarili. Ang mga simpleng pangarap niya maging isang fashion designer, mamuhay nang tahimik at payapa ay natatabunan ng mga korona at trono na ipinipilit isuot sa kaniya ng asawa. Sa pagbabalik ng isang matalik na kaibigan mula sa nakaraan, muling nabuhay ang mga tanong sa puso ni Cassandra: Ano ba talaga ang tunay na halaga ng kaligayahan? Pera, kapangyarihan, at titulo? O ang kalayaan na sundin ang sariling pangarap kahit kapalit nito ay mawala ang lahat ng yaman at impluwensya?

I am Ivy Blackthorne, the Luna of the Graystone pack and a princess of the White Wolf royalty. Tomorrow, when the full moon rises, I will personally place the heirloom upon my nine-year-old pup, Lucas Gowling, as both his mother and Luna. Lucas is not only my pup with my Alpha mate, Alexander Gowling, but he is also the Child of Prophecy foretold to lead the Graystone pack to glory. For nine years, I have believed that moment will be the most perfect in my life. But three minutes ago, I caught a faint yet chillingly bitter scent in my breakfast. It is wolfsbane, a rare poison that can kill wolves. My blood runs cold. Who would poison my food? I force myself to stay calm and not react immediately. I lift my bowl and pretend to drink its contents, but I secretly pour it into a napkin under the table. A more terrifying thought forms in my mind—if my breakfast is poisoned, then what about Lucas' food? I shoot to my feet right away. Without even stopping to grab a coat, I rush toward the training grounds in the back of the mountains. Before I reach it, I hear Lucas' voice from the woods toward the north. "Mother, did I do well today? I watch her eat breakfast with my own eyes." I freeze like I was hit by a bolt of lightning. Trembling, I push aside the bushes, only to see someone unexpected standing there. It is Sophia Crow, Alexander's childhood sweetheart, whom he had supposedly cut off from his life long ago. She crouches slightly and wipes Lucas' sweat off his brow, her movements intimate and natural. "Very good. Just one more day. After the succession ceremony tomorrow, you won't need to call her 'Mother' anymore," says Sophia. Lucas replies, "I've grown tired of calling her Mother for a long time. If she dies, can I openly call you 'Mother'?" Sophia gently pulls Lucas into her arms. "Of course. You are my pup to begin with." In that instant, every breath I take feels suffocating. The pain is unbearable. The pup I raised for nine years is actually the illegitimate child of my mate and his childhood sweetheart.

Chased by Sorin through neon-lit Vegas, Dawn’s uncontrolled light magic crackles in desperation. She slips past the ward that hides a magical realm and crashes into the Black Pistons motorcycle club’s territory. The club is led by twin alpha dragons, Riku and Rain, who have vowed against mating. Dawn’s arrival ignites an unexpected bond: Riku flirts, teasing her with warmth and guidance, while Rain, the colder brother, distances himself despite an undeniable draw. Offered shelter and protection, Dawn steps into a world of dragonfire and the shadow of a dark wizard who promises safety if she stops running. Rain’s distrust of Dawn’s magic leads him to impose strict rules while Riku encourages her to explore her power. Sorin infiltrates the ward, probing defenses and leaving Dawn shaken. A midnight ride under desert stars ends with an almost-kiss as Riku’s warmth contrasts Rain’s questions that reveal his inner conflict. During a training session Riku teaches her to channel light magic through touch, sparking an intimate moment abruptly interrupted by Sorin’s attack. As dreams twist under Malachar’s promises, Dawn finds herself torn between the twins’ opposing teachings when Rain, rescues her from danger. Jealousy and desire fracture their trio when Dawn admits to a bond with both brothers. Riku’s teasing hides tender devotion, while Rain’s hesitation dissolves as he tends to her wounds with touches. In a moonlit orchard their passion ignites until Rain’s sudden arrival sparks tension. Malachar’s emissary breaches the ward bearing a sigil, forcing the twins and Dawn into battle. Dragonfire and light magic merge in a display of unity that scatters their foe. In the aftermath adrenaline fuels an moment where neither brother claims her outright, their unclaimed bond shimmering with danger and undeniable promise.

When scholarship student Loveth accidentally witnesses the untouchable Maxwell Thorne stealing St. Jude Academy’s legendary Founder’s Ring from the school vault, she expects denial or punishment. Instead, Maxwell offers her a deal. Help him return the ring before the prestigious Spring Founder’s Gala, or he’ll make sure her scholarship disappears. But as they secretly investigate the theft, Loveth discovers Maxwell never planned to keep the ring. Someone forced him to steal it, and that someone is powerful enough to destroy both their futures. Forced to pretend they hate each other in public while working together in secret, Loveth and Maxwell unravel a mystery buried deep within the academy’s foundations. Because at St. Jude’s, the truth isn’t just dangerous. It’s deadly.